Garment frame



Se LZ'Y, 1949- H. WATERS GARMENT FRAME Filed June 13, 1946 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 27, 1949 Application June 13, 1946, Serial No. 676,525

Claims.

This invention relates to snap-on frame members for garments, and more particularly, as a bodice frame for backless and strapless playsuit tops, swim suits, open midriff dresses, and the like.

Hitherto, womens sports wear and play suits including swim suits were worn with halters and the bodices were tied or supported across the back as well as the front or shoulder straps were required where the halters were not used. Upper garments of these types do not permit of uniform exposure and tanning of the shoulders and back of the wearer. The result is that when sunning, in public, the shoulder strap lines, halter outline, and back strap outlines, are sharply delineated, as white or untanned skin, against a tanned background. When backless, strapless, and openmidriff outfits are attempted to be worn, the sharp color contrast between the exposed, tanned, and untanned areas, of the skin is generally unsightly. Because of the admittedly beneficial results flowing from sun baths, and because of the fact that the majority of people are not in a position to do such sun bathing in strict privacy, it is desirable to make available articles of dress which will permit maximum skin exposure with proper recognition of the canons of decency.

The invention herein provides means for attaining the desirable results described above, by

providing a novel snap-on framing member for the tops of womens garments which are worn as swim or play suits or the like, as well as street and evening wear.

The improvements of the present invention are embodied in a wire or plastic frame comprising annular breast-receiving frames having lateral spring bands of generally curvilinear section curved to conform to the shape of the wearer. The frame members may be made of sheet plastic or of wire, and are covered with suitable fabric, as desired.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein there is illustrated a specific embodiment of a snap-on frame member formed from wire, and in which Fig. 1 is a top view, and

Fig. 2 is a front view of'a garment frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the frame member will be seen to comprise a pair of spaced rings l0, l2, joined by a bridging section II and having side members l4, l6 secured thereto. The members I4 and l 6 may be of wire, metal tape, or sheet plastic, and terminate in end portions l5, I! which are spaced and adapted, when. 5

the device is conformed to the wearers torso, to grip the same under the shoulder blades, leaving the back exposed. As shown in the drawings, the rings l0, l2, side bands l4, I6, and bridge II are formed of a single piece of wire, as illustrated. At the lateral edges of the rings the wire may be bent back on itself as indicated generally at [8 and the top and bottom sections of the ring spaced by gaps l9 and 20, respectively. Similarly, the abutted wires forming the bridge section It may be spaced or unsecured to permit a desired spreading. If the member is made of wire, as illustrated, and the segments are expandable the frame may be spread as desired to accommodate or take care of individual variations in conformation.

The frames may be soldered or welded together to increase the stiffness. Any suitable covering material may be applied on and over the frame to serve as breast pockets and side bands, although, if desired, the side frame members may be left uncovered, thus permitting a maximum of skin exposure.

Where a. wire or metal frame sections are to be used, they may be covered with suitable plastic coatings which are water-proof, sun-proof and sweat-proof. Where clear plastic is used for the side frame members it will desirably be made of a composition which will transmit the beneficial rays of the sun. One such group of plastic compositions are those of the so-called methacrylate resins. If desired, suitable cushioning materials may be incorporated with or disposed over the framin members.

Due to the simplicity of construction, a framing member may be covered with fabric and the fabric changed or replaced at will, so that one frame may be used with a variety of outfits.

I claim:

1. An integral, snap-on, spring frame for strapless brassires, comprising a continuous length of self-supporting and deformable rod-like material shaped to form a pair of interconnected and spaced ring members open at the outside, then bent back on the upper and lower segments of the ring and continued laterally as parallel, spaced framing members joined by integral end portions, the framing members being shaped to form arcuate, torso-engaging side bands, the ring members serving as breast-receiving members and the side sections being conformed to and gripping the torso, with the ends of the bands engaging the torso beneath the shoulder blades.

2. Device according to claim 1 in which the several parts of the frame are spreadable.

3. Device according to claim 1 in which the several parts of the frame are covered with protective surfacings.

4. Device according to claim 1 in which the frame is made of sheet plastic.

5. Device according to claim 1 in which the frame is made of sheet plastic which is permeable to the suns rays.

HARRY WATERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Re. 22,771 .3 925,655 2,045,401 2,391,417 2,414,590

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Licht July 16, 1946 Round June 22, 1909 Mowry June 23, 1932 Hill Dec. 25, 1945 Folb Jan. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France July 30, 1934 France Jan. 29, 1940 

